Posts Tagged ‘poetry reading’

Big sheets of cardboard from leftover bike boxes waved up and down behind the small audience. Marlo and Sean and Kristoff and Stephanie took turns with the fans that perfectly matched the HUB’s DIY thriftiness. Our stage was a large piece of plywood, elevated by the buckets we use to water our growing garden. The curtain was a long maroon sheet of fabric that Molly draped over the rope I’d tied below the loft. Because we didn’t have electricity, a generator powered a single spotlight that washed light over the stage. Candles sat in a planter in the bathroom. LED bike lights shone from the metal branches of a sculptured tree that a neighbor donated to us.

Yesterday’s record heat didn’t deter the storytellers and poets from taking to the stage and sharing their words while sweat dripped from their brows. There was no sound system, just the acoustics of our garage space and a captive audience. Our first open mic was small, but cozy. Six people preformed to an audience of about thirty. I’ve been saying lately that I’d rather read the work of someone I know than buy a bestselling novel, and it hit me as I was sitting there, listening to one of my friends recite a poem he wrote, that I’d finally gotten exactly what I wanted. We had a forum to share our stories or poems or music with people that we knew and experience the art of someone we could talk to rather than some distant persona. After the readings were finished, everyone stayed around and drank and mingled and laughed. Community. All of this was about building community. Though none of the pieces had to do with bicycles, the whole event mirrored the HUB’s ethos of fostering real relationships instead of upholding some cold business-customer relationship.

I’m deeming Logophobia a success, and so we’ll be continuing it as a bi-monthly event. The next one will be on Tuesday July 20th, with the theme of childhood (chosen by one of the contributors, as we will continue to do from now on). I’ll be posting more information about other events, and the exact layout of future Logophobias some time this weekend. Tune in and stay cool!

…The fear of words, and the title for our first event. On the night of TUESDAY JULY 6TH, Hudson Urban Bicycles will be transformed into a West Village salon, hosting the first of its bi-monthly open mic nights. The theme of the evening is fears and phobias. Poetry reading, storytelling, (acoustic) music making, and sharing in any form or medium is welcome, so long as it applies to the theme. For those who would like to participate, there’s no need to sign up ahead of time, but please do arrive slightly early. Entry to this first event is free, and we’re working on getting free wine and beer as well. Please RSVP on Facebook so that we have enough for everyone. Come share, listen to your artistic neighbors, and meet new people! …all amongst our beautiful bikes.